But one might argue Choo is a guy who beat ALL kinds of pressure to lead his Korean team to that win last year, thus getting out of the military.

And, one might argue clearly his country means a lot to him.

Which is why he is so upset about the DUI, his image at home is tarnished.

He'll get over it.

Jeremy Guthrie is perhaps Baltimore's most attractive trade candidate, but MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli doesn't think the right-hander will be moved. "It would take a significant haul on the Orioles' side to give up Guthrie," Ghiroli writes, and she also points out that Guthrie is the only veteran and only innings-eater on the club's pitching staff. Ghiroli cites the Indians and Rangers among the teams who have shown interest in Guthrie.

I know Choo is a proud guy and of course fond for his original country.


That said, I know some Korean girls working in bars in San Francisco who can give me a serious run for my $$ on shot consumption. I don't think they have much of a problem with Choo's DUI.

Tomorrow I'll be at our game though, and no shots as I want to assure a Tribe victory.

(perhaps a lobster roll or some garlic fries)

I'll be pointing to the Glove and the Coca Cola bottle in left field and guaranfrickinteeing a Cleveland Indians win.

Sunday, too.


We're taking this road series.

Donald is playing for Columbus.

Since I'm now out of Ohio, a couple of months ago I was seriously thinking about shelling out money to buy the mlb.com package to watch the Indians.

Fortunately for my reticence, the Indians have since remembered who they are--horrible. They're on national TV tomorrow night, and I doubt I'll even bother to watch.

They're still in first place. They've had their injury problems and slumps, mental let-downs, etc.

But aside from Carmona the starting pitching is still decent, and the bullpen is still pretty solid. The hitting has faltered along with the defense.

There's still plenty of time for them to pull it back together and find the zone they were in earlier in the season.

It's WAY too early to quit on this team.

We're rarely beaten badly.

Just enough to lose.

Which is not fun.

National TV tomorrow. I'll be in the stands....or at least in AT&T Park. I went "Jack Benny" and purchased "Standing Room Only" seats knowing I'll sit where I like, within reason.

It's not admirable to give up on your team when in First Place.....no matter how.....with The All Star Game so close at hand.


Detroit and Chicago can kiss my arse, and if we get past the 4th of July within 2 games of the lead I will be watching the front office closely for possible future criticism.....or hopefully, accolades.


With the 2011 season to date, we will be FIRMLY in a Pennant Race if that happens.

No flim flam excuses will ever be accepted for lack of attempts on roster moves.

Pitching "carries a team". Pitching is "90% of the game". Which means we're in a lot of close games but since the offense can't score and now the defense has unraveled and we'll lose frustratingly on a regular basis. Miserable divsiion, we can finish anywhere from 1st to 5th.

Carmona tonight. Yuck. His opponent though doesn't have a good record either.

Think of it, we have one guy hitting .290 or so, one hitting about .275, and then it really cascades. Most of our guys hitting .205 to .235. Unbelieveable. I forgot the one bright spot of Hafner. AND, I doubt he would play first base a whole lot worse than Santana.

Was this the guy everyone wanted for Cliff Lee ?


Kyle Drabek lasted just 2/3 of an inning in his start for Triple-A Las Vegas Friday, allowing five runs on four hits and three walks while also throwing a wild pitch.
Ouch. In his two outings since being demoted, Drabek has given up nine runs on 12 hits and 10 walks over just 4 2/3 innings. The 23-year-old right-hander is extremely talented, but he's clearly out of whack right now. It will be interesting to see if the Blue Jays consider shutting him down for a while in hopes that he can get his mechanics in order.

I'll settle for Carrasco. Drabek has been noted as talented by subject to emotional irruptions. He may pull it together someday. Carrasco looks like a keeper. If Knapp had not been tainted goods that actually could have been a solid return for Lee.

It really hurts that the tribe couldn't at least gotten one win for Cali, but to keep things in perspective, all three games were winnable, and we were playing the World Series Champions, not chopped liver. Our pitching was great and, well, our pitching was great!

Here's the explanation we were all looking for the new offensive success:

Hitting coach Fields alters pregame strategy
Indians to meet each day to discuss opposing starting pitcher
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | 06/26/11 9:55 PM ET

SAN FRANCISCO -- Teams typically hold meetings to study opposing pitchers on the first day of each series, filing into a room and breaking down video of the starting pitchers scheduled to take the hill.

The Indians are taking a new approach.

Recently hired hitting coach Bruce Fields plans on holding a meeting with his hitters before each game. Members of Cleveland's offense met in the visitors' clubhouse prior to Sunday's game to go over Giants lefty Madison Bumgarner. [who allowed 8 runs in 1/3 inning last time out and 1 run in 7 innings after the videogame]

"That's his job," said Indians manager Manny Acta. "If he thinks that will help them, then I'm all behind him. I try not to micromanage. I let everybody do their job, and then if somebody is out of line, then I'll step in.

"If he feels that going over those guys every day is going to help them, let's go for it."

In light of the team's continued offensive woes, the Indians dimissed Jon Nunnally as their hitting coach on June 19. Fields, who had been the organization's roving Minor League hitting instructor, arrived one day later and assumed Nunnally's post.

Acta said there is no secret to turning things around.

"In order for our offense to be good," Acta said, "just about everyone here has to be playing up to their capabilities. We knew that coming in."

BTW, Bruce Fields' son Aaron made his season debut with Lake County, went hitless naturally.

Chisenhall called up -- Everett DFA'd

http://www.indiansprospectinsider.com/